I don’t think it’s much of a secret that TV is a tough business. For every one hit series there’s whole bunch of them that get killed after only a few episodes. Heck, there’s even some that are cancelled before they get on the air at all.

But no matter what, it all costs money. A lot of it.

Taking that into consideration, you can understand why networks seem to be doing more, cheaper, unscripted reality shows and fewer, more expensive, one hour scripted dramatic shows. It’s simple math.

However, one network at least (besides AMC) is bucking the trend and going for a lot more dramatic, scripted series. That network is USA, which has a Summer schedule filled with 8 hour dramas and comedies and only one reality series.

New series include Suits and Necessary Roughness and returning shows White Collar, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, Burn Notice, In Plain Sight and the the final season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

The network will use its biggest shows, Burn Notice and Royal Pains, to launch its new series, Suits and Necessary Roughness. Additionally, the network’s first reality series in 5 years, WWE Tough Enough, will continue to air on Monday, bringing the total of USA’s original summer series to 9.

Click through for USA’s Summer schedule with premiere dates (courtesy of the fine folks at Deadline):

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Deep down, whether we admit to it or not, we dream about living the life of a spy. Going on adventurous missions, saving lives, living the high life in a different city every night, it all sounds pretty dreamy. Now, thanks to USA and Covert Affairs, you can get one step closer to that life. This awesome gift bag includes all the things anyone would need to live the secret life of an international spy.

USA Network has your Tuesdays covered with the best looking night on television with the new hit series Covert Affairs at 10pm.  COVERT AFFAIRS stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher , Kari Matchett, Anne Dudek and Sendhil Ramamurthy. Visit the official Covert Affairs website for games, photos and weekly prizes. Visit USA Network’s Character Arcade to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

ENTER TO WIN a COVERT AFFAIRS Gift Bag!

Covert Affairs Gift Bag includes:
-Tumi maps set
-Hard cover Spy book
-Covert Affairs Hat
-Covert Affairs T-Shirt

Check out how to win this super secret prize pack after the jump

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USA’s Burn Notice has been sizzling the small screen all summer long, so The Flickcast braved the waves of fans at the San Diego Comic-Con to talk with its covert operatives.  We were right alongside geek god Bruce Campbell and the sprightly Tim Matheson to discuss living in the scorching heat of Miami. Although one plays the angel and the other the devil on Michael Weston’s shoulder, they have one thing in common: they both enjoy a cool Mojito at the end of a long shoot day.

With their plethora of credits both on and off screen, they are the quintessential “Jack of All Trades.” Campbell, of course, has been acting, directing, producing, and hamming it up in many a geeky film like Evil Dead. Matheson is no stranger to being behind the camera and directing an episode or two of many a USA show including White Collar, Psych, Covert Affairs, and of course his own killer schemes in Burn Notice. I guess being dead frees up your spare time. But, sorrow no more as it’s confirmed Larry Sizemore was (gasp) not really dead and will be returning next season.

Following the jump hear what these two spies have to say about surviving and thriving in the world of Jason Bourne meets Miami Vice and maybe even learn a thing or two.

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Watch any regular television show these days and you’ll probably find the sets become as important as the characters themselves.  There’s comfort in knowing you’ll be returning to a familiar place from week-to-week.  Covert Affairs is no different and has crafted a number of unique locales viewers will certainly enjoy seeing each week.

Whether it’s something as innocent as Annie Walker’s (Piper Perabo) bedroom or the technology laden operations center of the Domestic Protection Division (DPD) the attention to detail is nothing short of spectacular.  While the sets we walked through are different from the locations used in the pilot episode, the modifications and “upgrades” are impressive.  Did I mention how awesome the DPD set is?  Even if I did let me say again, it’s awesome!

There doesn’t seem to be much to it all looking from the outside in.  I whole lot of wooden beams and plastic backdrops beneath dozens of lights where a ceiling should be.  Turn a corner, however, and you suddenly find yourself walking through the foyer of the Central Intelligence Agency.  It’s quite an experience and credit has to be given to the set designers and trades people that put these sets together.

On a side note, while they were not available the day of our visit I wanted to mention some of the other great actors that round out the Covert Affairs cast: Peter Gallagher (Californication, The O.C.), Kari Matchett (Leverage, Criminal Minds) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes) all bring great talent to this new series.

So, in conclusion to our coverage of Covert Affairs here are some pictures of the sets after the jump you’re sure to enjoy when the series premiers.  Also, thanks to NBC, USA Network, New Media Strategies, and the cast and crew of Covert Affairs for making our visit possible.  We look forward to the premiere Tuesday, July 13.  Make sure to check it out!

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During The Flickcast’s set visit to USA Network’s new series Covert Affairs we spoke with Executive Producer Doug Liman about the origins of the show.  Following that we had the opportunity to speak with three of the show’s regulars, Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty, Harper’s Island), Anne Dudek (House, Mad Men) and Piper Perabo (The Prestige, Coyote Ugly).  All the interviews took place on the Covert Affairs sets in Toronto, Canada.

One thing every good television show needs is a lead character that can be relatable to viewers yet embrace the hyper-real world of fiction.  Piper Perabo, as Annie Walker, on Covert Affairs blends these two elements seamlessly.  While thoroughly convincing as a rookie CIA Officer she’s equally well-rounded as a down-to-Earth friend to Christopher Gorham’s Auggie and sister to Anne Dudek’s Danielle.  In short, Perabo effortlessly draws the audience into her world of intrigue, action and drama on Covert Affairs.

As easy as Perabo makes her performance on the series look there is a significant amount of reality behind the character of Annie Walker.  While the scripts themselves carry with them a healthy dose of real world exposition, Perabo was fortunate enough to actually do her own research for the role at the Central Intelligence Agency itself in Langley, Virginia.

Interestingly enough, it was the day-to-day details of the people that worked for the CIA that became more relevant than work specifics as Perabo explained:

“…I went and I met agents who are my age who work in the field, women, and got to talk to them.  Not just about—the funny thing is the things that they can’t talk about aren’t really the things that I, you know, I don’t need to know where your stationed or what you’re doing.  But my questions were more like, ‘What kind of car do you drive?  Does your boyfriend know what you do? Do your parents?’

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During The Flickcast’s set visit to USA Network’s new series Covert Affairs we spoke with Executive Producer Doug Liman about the origins of the show. Following that we had the opportunity to speak with three of the show’s regulars, Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty, Harper’s Island), Anne Dudek (House, Mad Men) and Piper Perabo (The Prestige, Coyote Ugly).  All the interviews took place on the Covert Affairs sets in Toronto, Canada.

Playing to the extreme opposite of Christopher Gorham’s CIA Officer, Auggie Anderson, is Anne Dudek as Danielle.  Older sister to Piper Perabo’s lead character of Annie Walker, Dudek balances the intense CIA action with a life in which the biggest challenge is getting her kids to school on time.

Don’t let the pedestrian existence of domestic bliss fool you, Dudek explains the critical part she plays in the world of Covert Affairs:

“I mean you know the sisterly relationship that, it’s a little more than that because Danielle sort of feels motherly in a way that’s a little inappropriate towards Annie.

But then also, Annie really needs Danielle and they really do need each other.  And so I think it’s sort of like well, there’s this huge lie in the middle of this really vital relationship.

And what would happen if that really came out?  But everything Danielle knows about her sister is like a complete lie and that’s what’s being built is this web of lies.  And so it is a support system that if it breaks down, I mean, it’s going to be really, really bad news.”

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During The Flickcast’s set visit to USA Network’s new series Covert Affairs we spoke with Exec. Producer Doug Liman about the origins of the show.  Following that we had the opportunity to speak with three of the show’s regulars, Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty, Harper’s Island), Anne Dudek (House, Mad Men) and Piper Perabo (The Prestige, Coyote Ugly).  All the interviews took place on the Covert Affairs sets in Toronto, Canada.

Christopher Gorham plays Auggie Anderson on Covert Affairs.  The resident technology expert, the role lends itself to being the bridge between the audience and how the tech on the show works.  Based on this, one would think Gorham was a natural geek, but according to him that’s not the case:

The Flickcast: Being surrounded by that, being that kind of character on the show, how well versed are you in technology?  Like, are you anywhere near what Auggie is, or are you-

Chris Gorham: Nowhere-first of all, nowhere near.

TF: No?

CG: Second of all, nowhere near what I wish I knew.  Thirdly, nowhere near where I need to be, because my kids are getting older quick.

One would think getting your head around hi-tech gadgets would be a challenge but that pales in comparison to one important element of Gorham’s character-the fact that he’s blind.  In preparation for the role Gorham worked extensively with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB):

“I was working on a film in Michigan right before the pilot, and literally came straight here from there. So I hadn’t had any time at home to really do the research that I would normally do. So I called ahead and found the – well, I found the CNIB on the Internet, and called ahead to the production office and asked them if they could hook me up with somebody over there.

And they did – a lovely woman named Leslie McDonald who came out. And we had two sessions during the pilot, where the first one she came out and just went over things like sighted lead, and working with the cane, and a lot of just behavioural things about how to get around.”

Having seen a number of actors take on roles in which they portray blind characters I can tell you Gorham is exceptional.  Be that as it may, Gorham is quick to emphasise that while Auggie is blind that does not diminish him in contrast to other characters:

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USA Networks’ new series Covert Affairs doesn’t premiere until July 13, but The Flickcast was invited to Toronto to check out the set and talk to some of the cast.  There’s too much content to put in one post so we thought it was best to break this up over several articles.  Getting things started is this interview with Covert Affairs Executive Producer Doug Liman.

Even if you haven’t heard of Liman but are into the spy genre there’s a high probability you’ve seen one of his films.  Liman directed the first of the Bourne trilogy films and produced the other two.  He also produced Mr. and Mrs. Smith and is currently working on Fair Game; the true story of CIA spy Valerie Plame Wilson whose identity was revealed by the White House to allegedly discredit her husband.

With all that on Liman’s film resume it’s no surprise he was drawn to a TV series about spies.  Ultimately, however, it was working on Fair Game that became the driving force behind Covert Affairs. According to Liman:

“…in doing the research for Fair Game, we got access to a lot of current and former covert officers with the CIA. And most of the material that we were learning about had no place in the movie, unless I wanted the movie to be 10 hours long. And so we had this huge treasure trove of just sort of cool factoids.

And you know, that stuff is, you know, it was just like the perfect timing to be developing a TV show in the same arena at the same time, because we’ve just taken all the research that, you know, wasn’t appropriate for Fair Game and just channeled it right into Covert Affairs.”

While at their core Covert Affairs and Fair Game are about the CIA both spin the material in completely different directions. While Covert Affairs plays to the strengths of the CIA and what they do to protect the nation, Fair Game definitely represents the Agency in a moment of weakness.

This distinction was not lost on Liman as he explained the differences:

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Now that the traditional TV season of starting shows in the Fall and then having to watch reruns all Summer is pretty much gone for good, networks are debuting new shows and bringin back old ones pretty much anytime of the year. Case in point is USA Networks announcement of new and returning shows debuting this Summer.

Among the shows debuting or returning to the newtok over the next fews months are the brand new Covert Affairs featuring Piper Perabo, Christopher Goram and Heroes alum Sendhil Ramamurthy. Returining shows include Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Royal Pains, In Plain Sight, Burn Notice, White Collar and Psych.

For a full description of the shows and their respective return or premiere dates, check out all the info from this official USA press release:

MARCH

LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT (RETURNING SERIES)
Season nine of LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT gets underway March 30th as we say goodbye to old friends and welcome new faces to the Major Case Squad. LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT stars Emmy nominee Jeff Goldblum as Detective Zach Nichols and SAG nominee Saffron Burrows (“Boston Legal,” “Troy”) as Detective Serena Stevens. Burrows plays a highly educated, worldly single parent with a broad range of life experiences to draw upon in solving even the toughest of cases. Teamed with Detective Zach Nichols, they create a partnership of challenging intellect and street-smart savvy. Dick Wolf’s third installment in the “Law & Order” franchise follows the Major Case Squad as it investigates high profile crimes.

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